AI in Education Podcast
Dan Bowen and Ray Fleming are experienced education renegades who have worked in many various educational institutions and educational companies across the world. They talk about Artificial Intelligence in Education - what it is, how it works, and the different ways it is being used. It's not too serious, or too technical, and is intended to be a good conversation. Please note the views on the podcast are our own or those of our guests, and not of our respective employers (unless we say otherwise at the time!)
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What schools and small business can teach each other about AI
07/09/2026
What schools and small business can teach each other about AI
Most Australian students won't graduate into global tech companies. They'll build careers in small and medium businesses. So are schools and universities preparing them for that reality? In this episode, Dan and Ray are joined by - Co-founder and Director of Women in AI Australia and Founder & CEO of Entrepreneurial & Small Business Women Australia (ESBWA) -to explore what education can learn from the businesses driving Australia's economy. Amanda shares practical advice on introducing AI without losing critical thinking, why educators should partner with local businesses to bring authentic problem-solving into the classroom, and how simple AI policies can help schools and organisations move from uncertainty to action. The conversation also tackles AI equity, bias in AI systems, and why students need to develop their own voice and judgement before relying on AI tools. If you're a teacher, school leader, university educator or anyone interested in preparing learners for an AI-enabled workforce, this episode offers practical strategies you can put into practice straight away. Find out more about:
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We've Read the AI Reports So You Don't Have To - Series 17, Episode 9
07/02/2026
We've Read the AI Reports So You Don't Have To - Series 17, Episode 9
This week, Ray and Dan dive into a mountain of new AI in education research, so you don't have to. They unpack major reports from around the world covering how students are really using AI, why schools are still struggling to provide clear guidance, and what the latest AI literacy and education readiness frameworks mean for teachers and leaders. Along the way they discuss Norway's AI restrictions in primary schools, student concerns about AI data centres, new guidance on AI in assessment, and the growing importance of the human skills that AI can't replace. If you're trying to make sense of where AI in education is heading, this episode brings together the latest evidence, trends and practical insights in one conversation. And hopefully you won't have to read all the reports below, but our conversation has given you a head start to find the right one(s) for you! Power Toys (to turn your Copilot button into a shortcut for any AI) EU: Norway imposes near ban on AI in elementary schools Australia: Sunshine Coast students push back as Australia positions itself as a global AI leader UK: Navigating AI in Education - Pupils’ perspectives on the role of AI in the classroom US: Common Sense Media Census: AI use by Teens and Tweens Australia: Learning First School Research Global: AI Literacy Framework from OECD & EC Global: New WEF report: Shaping the Future of Learning: Education Readiness for the Age of AI Australia: AI in Higher Education Research in Australia US: Lumina Foundation/Gallup - "AI in Higher Education: Widespread Use, Unclear Rules" Australia: TEQSA's new guidance on detecting AI use in student assessments Global: Preparing students for the future of work from Microsoft Global: QS World Future Skills Index
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Victoria Hedlund on AI bias: What every teacher needs to know
06/25/2026
Victoria Hedlund on AI bias: What every teacher needs to know
AI systems are increasingly being used in education, but what happens when those systems introduce hidden bias into learning, feedback, assessment and career advice? In this episode, we’re joined by (AKA The AI Bias Girl), founder of , former physics teacher, consultant and researcher specialising in AI bias in education. Victoria shares practical examples of how AI tools can produce different outputs based on gender, names, backgrounds and other personal characteristics. From explanations of how a light bulb works to career guidance and assessment, we explore how seemingly small biases can compound over time and influence attainment, wellbeing and opportunity. The conversation covers AI tutors, safeguarding concerns, assessment risks, the importance of keeping humans in the loop, and why educators need to adopt a more experimental mindset when working with generative AI. This is a thought-provoking discussion about fairness, agency and what every teacher needs to know as AI becomes increasingly embedded in education. For more background, here's two bits of Victoria's writing: Deep dive on using AI for marking Deep dive on Squishmallow Top Trumps And finally, free downloads from Victoria, including 8 bias-mitigating prompts for teachers, and a growing set of other resources on AI bias in education.
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More A's, More Fails: What AI Is Really Doing to Student Performance
06/18/2026
More A's, More Fails: What AI Is Really Doing to Student Performance
What happens when AI helps students earn more A grades, and also contributes to more failures when it's taken away? In this episode, Ray and Dan explore new research on AI's impact on student performance, assessment integrity, and learning. They discuss studies linking AI to rising grades, the risks of over-reliance on AI, and growing evidence that AI tutors may support learning better than general-purpose chatbots. The conversation also covers AI detectors, AI humanisers, teacher workload, Microsoft's latest Copilot updates, and a new tool for measuring the environmental footprint of AI use. AI in Education Research Papers Artificial Intelligence and Grade Inflation ps WSJ wrote an article on this Failing grades soar as professors see greater AI usage, dwindling math skills in UC Berkeley computer science classes Building AI Companions that Prioritise Learning over Performance Effective Personalized AI Tutors via LLM-Guided Reinforcement Learning Law Professors prefer AI over peer answers Fixing teachers’ problems? exploring teachers’ repair and maintenance work around generative AI technologies https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01596306.2026.2657793\ Dramaturgies of Deception: AI Humanizers and the Performance of Legitimacy in Higher Education Assessment Homogenizing effect of large language models (LLMs) on creative diversity: An empirical comparison of human and ChatGPT writing AI Detectors Fail Diverse Student Populations: A Mathematical Framing of Structural Detection Limits AI News Copilot Cowork released Copilot notebooks released for all free copilot chat basic accounts Andy Masley's Carbon footprint calculator| Mazenod College: Year 12 students caught using AI to cheat
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Flourishing in the Age of AI: Schools Putting Humans First
06/11/2026
Flourishing in the Age of AI: Schools Putting Humans First
What does it mean to put humans first in the age of AI? Recorded at the Flourish Conference, this special episode brings together three school leaders who are using AI in very different ways, and with a common focus on human agency. You'll hear how students are designing their own learning agents, how AI can help teachers make better use of student data while keeping information secure, and how one school is using AI-powered coaching tools to support professional learning and culture change. Across all three stories, a clear message emerges: the most effective AI initiatives aren't replacing people - they're helping students and teachers flourish. Featuring: (, Broken Bay Diocese) () () A practical look at how schools are building capability, trust and innovation with AI.
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Why One Law School Just Banned AI
06/04/2026
Why One Law School Just Banned AI
Why would a leading law school ban AI entirely while other countries are giving every citizen access to ChatGPT? In this news-focused episode, Ray and Dan unpack some of the biggest developments shaping AI and education around the world. They discuss China's new national AI education strategy, Malta's ambitious "AI for All" programme, Harvard's expansion of student AI access, and Anthropic's $200 million partnership with the Gates Foundation. The conversation explores a controversial decision by the University of California, Berkeley School of Law to prohibit AI use in assessed work, raising important questions about judgement, employability, and the future role of AI in professional education. They also examine new research on how people are actually using AI, why Australian students' digital literacy is falling despite increased screen time, and what educators can learn from a high-profile academic integrity case involving an AI-assisted newspaper article. Finally, they highlight Jason La Greca's excellent framework for testing and stress-testing educational chatbots before they are deployed to students. All the links: China launches AI empowering education action plan, includes AI into teacher qualification exams The Amazon-Perplexity Ruling and Implications for "Agentic AI" in EdTech Malta gives every Maltese (at home and abroad!) ChatGPT free - with a catch Harvard students avoid uni-provided ChatGPT Anthropic's forms $200M partnership with the Gates Foundation University of California Berkeley School of Law bans AI Australian students’ digital literacy at an all time low How people are really using AI Walton Family Foundation Educator Research: closing the expectations gap From the ”You couldn’t make this up” department Can you spot AI writing? How to break your chatbot - from Jason La Greca
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Pasi Sahlberg on AI and Flourishing in education
05/28/2026
Pasi Sahlberg on AI and Flourishing in education
What is the purpose of education in an AI-driven world? In this thought-provoking episode of the AI in Education Podcast, Ray and Dan sit down with to explore one of the biggest questions facing schools, universities, and society today. Drawing on global research, OECD trends, and decades of educational leadership, Pasi explains why traditional measures of success - achievement, credentials, and test performance - may no longer be enough in the age of AI. The conversation explores: Human capital vs human flourishing Why wellbeing and agency matter more than ever The future of assessment and PISA AI’s impact on work, learning, and society Why “hope is not a strategy” What schools should prioritise over the next decade The episode also reflects on parenting, teacher accountability, screen time, and the human skills that may become most valuable as AI capabilities accelerate. Referenced in this episode: OECD Education for Human Flourishing. An accidental guru: The making of an education warrior Sir Ken Robinson at TED - Do Schools Kill Creativity? .
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Flourish: The Human Role in AI and Education
05/21/2026
Flourish: The Human Role in AI and Education
This special live episode of the AI in Education Podcast was recorded at , where Dan and Ray explored one of the biggest questions facing education today: how do schools find the “happy middle” with AI? The conversation dives into the shifting narrative around AI and jobs, the growing role of human agency in education, and why wellbeing, flourishing and trust must remain central as AI adoption accelerates. Along the way, they unpack new research on AI bias, AI detectors, cognitive debt, student safety, and the widening gap between individual innovation and organisational readiness. The episode also reflects on keynote insights from Pasi Sahlberg and discussions around OECD flourishing metrics, parent engagement, and what schools can do now to bring entire communities along on the AI journey. This is a thoughtful, practical and deeply human conversation about balancing opportunity, risk and responsibility in education’s AI future. Topics covered: AI and the future of work Human flourishing and wellbeing AI bias in education Safe AI use in schools Parent and community engagement AI detectors and academic integrity The “happy middle” approach to technology adoption Research Papers, and links to things we discussed The changing tune of the AI leaders: The Jobs Apocalypse no more...See these tweets for last year's story: , , and And this year's story: , and Microsoft's Work Trend Index report 2026 Pasi Sahlberg His website: OECD research he discussed: (the chart was ) Victoria Hedlund, the "AI Bias Girl' and on Substack at Her LinkedIn post that kicked off the SquashMallow test: The retracted Nature research paper on AI in Education: Think U Know:
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Inside Sydney’s AI Hub: Building University Automation That Works
05/16/2026
Inside Sydney’s AI Hub: Building University Automation That Works
Inside Sydney’s AI Hub: Building University Automation That Works In this episode, Dan and Ray are joined by , now leading the Automation and Innovation Hub at the University of Sydney. Dan shares how the Hub has evolved from a robotic process automation team into a university-wide service using automation and AI to improve everyday work. With around 400 automated processes running across the university, the team helps staff remove repetitive, time-consuming tasks without taking away the human parts of their roles. The conversation explores practical examples, including AI-powered invoice processing, and how generative AI is changing the software development lifecycle. Dan explains how tools like Cursor and AI-assisted coding are speeding up development, while also raising important questions about security, code quality, workload intensity, and developer wellbeing. The episode also dives into vibe coding, what it means for enterprise systems, and why the future of software development may depend less on hand-writing code and more on communication, problem-solving, and understanding users.
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What we learned from teachers at Sydney’s Day of AI
05/07/2026
What we learned from teachers at Sydney’s Day of AI
We kick off Series 17 with a multi-interview episode! Recorded live at the , this episode brings together three educators who are reshaping teaching, assessment and student learning in real classrooms with AI. You’ll hear from at on how teachers are building shared “Brains” in NotebookLM to save time, improve differentiation and support pedagogy, while reducing workload by more than 50 hours a week across staff workflows. from shares how AI is opening new creative possibilities for students and teachers alike, and why schools needed to guide students toward using AI well rather than trying to ban it. And from explores what happens in a “post-product world”, where assessment can no longer rely on trust in the final submission alone. His focus? Designing learning experiences that value process, thinking and cognitive craft. We had a lovely grounded, practical and optimistic conversation with these teachers, who are leading from the front as schools navigate the realities of AI in education. Really great to have been invited to attend and participate by , the TASC Head of AI.
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The Castlereagh Moment: Education at a Turning Point with AI?
04/30/2026
The Castlereagh Moment: Education at a Turning Point with AI?
This week’s episode explores a defining moment for education in the age of AI. Fresh from a week of major events in Sydney, including the Microsoft AI Summit, Dan and Ray unpack the newly released Castlereagh Statement - a collaboration between 70+ education leaders calling for urgent change across schools, universities, and training systems. Their message is clear: education isn’t ready for the speed and scale of AI disruption. But that’s only part of the story. We’re also seeing a growing pushback on technology in classrooms, with schools limiting screen time and universities questioning device use; while, at the same time, new AI-first models like AI-led tutoring and mastery-based learning are emerging rapidly. Add to that a widening gap between what employers expect and what graduates can actually do with AI, plus billions being invested in infrastructure and skills, and it’s clear: something has to change. We also dive into the latest research on AI in teaching, from new peer learning models to rethinking assessment and feedback. This episode connects the dots across policy, practice, and innovation. Resources discussed this week Castlereagh Statement California schools introduce tech limits Yale considering banning all electronic devices Khan TED Institute announced LSI: The world's first AI-led university Pearson/AWS survey of employers re students The Pedagogical Promptbook Microsoft’s $25 billion AI in Australia announcement Harvard adds mandatory AI courses to English writing course Research Papers Think–Pair–Chatbot–Share: AI-Facilitated Peer Learning in Chemistry Identifying what our students have learned: a framework for practical assessment validation Using generative artificial intelligence to reimagine feedback in higher education: a collaborative autoethnography
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From Classroom to Impact: How Dawn Knight Uses AI to Help Students Thrive
04/23/2026
From Classroom to Impact: How Dawn Knight Uses AI to Help Students Thrive
In this episode, we’re joined by , a sustainability lead and specialist support educator working with deaf students in a UK secondary school (). Dawn shares how she’s using AI in simple, practical ways to make learning more accessible - not just for students with additional needs, but for everyone in the classroom. From generating transcripts and differentiated resources to using AI as a planning “checklist,” Dawn explains how these tools are helping her save time and reinvest it where it matters most: supporting students directly. The conversation explores how technology originally designed for accessibility - like captions and transcription - is now benefiting all learners, and why inclusive approaches to AI can unlock better outcomes across the board. We also dive into the realities of AI adoption in schools: what works, what doesn’t, and why starting small is often the best approach. Dawn offers a refreshingly grounded perspective, showing that you don’t need to be a technical expert to make a real impact. If you’re looking for practical ways to use AI to support students and improve classroom experiences, this episode is full of ideas you can start using today. This might also be the ideal episode to share with any colleagues who are at the beginning of their AI in teaching journey
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Australia’s AI moment: Fast adoption, slow policy, big questions
04/16/2026
Australia’s AI moment: Fast adoption, slow policy, big questions
In this episode, Dan and Ray explore how AI is rapidly reshaping education, workplaces, and policy - often faster than institutions can respond. They unpack new guidance from NSW’s NESA on student AI use, highlighting the growing tension between rules, real-world behaviour, and the need for clearer, more consistent policies across education systems. The conversation expands globally with insights from the 2026 Stanford AI Index Report, revealing that while over 80% of students are already using AI, formal education and policy frameworks are struggling to keep pace. The distinction between 'AI in education', 'AI literacy', and 'AI education' becomes critical for understanding what schools and universities could actually be building. They also discuss emerging tools like Adobe Student Spaces, evolving AI workflows using tools like Claude and Copilot, and new data showing Australians are among the most advanced AI users globally. Finally, they revisit “real AI” use cases - specifically wildlife (crocs, turtles and quokkas) detection in Australia - as a reminder that AI’s impact extends far beyond chatbots. News items discussed NSW NESA's "Use of Artificial Intelligence by students" rules Adobe Student Spaces The 2026 AI Index Report from Stanford University Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence (HAI) centre Anthropic came Down Under AI crocodile detection trials begin in north Queensland Related stories from the past: Scientists use drones, cloud, and AI to protect Australia’s Quokkas Indigenous knowledge and AI help protect baby turtles from predators on Australia’s remote Cape York Strengthen your research workflow with generative AI
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Jocelyn Brewer - How schools and parents rethink student wellbeing in the age of AI
04/09/2026
Jocelyn Brewer - How schools and parents rethink student wellbeing in the age of AI
In this episode, Dan and Ray are joined by psychologist and cyber psychology expert , founder of , to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing education today: how schools and parents can support student wellbeing in an AI-driven world. Jocelyn introduces the concept of “” - a more balanced, intentional approach to technology use that moves beyond simplistic ideas like screen time limits. Together, they explore how young people are already using AI for everything from homework to navigating friendships, often in ways adults don’t fully understand. The conversation dives into the risks and opportunities of AI as a companion, why banning technology rarely works, and how schools can shift from restriction to risk minimisation. Jocelyn also challenges educators and parents to engage more openly with young people, positioning them as experts in their own digital lives. This episode is a powerful reminder that there are no simple answers - but doing nothing isn’t an option. We recommend you to keep topping up with her fantastic advice!
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Inside the latest AI in education research: tutors, bias, and impact
04/02/2026
Inside the latest AI in education research: tutors, bias, and impact
This week’s episode dives into a wave of new research shaping how AI is actually being used in education. We explore what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to AI-generated feedback, including why blended, “hybrid” feedback may be the most effective approach - and why more feedback doesn’t always lead to better outcomes. The conversation then turns to one of the most important emerging issues: bias in AI systems. From subtle differences in tone to stereotyping based on student characteristics, the research highlights why educators need to be cautious about the data they provide AI tools. “If you use AI to write feedback, it does not treat every student the same way equally.” We also talk about the growing evidence around AI tutors - where they outperform humans, where they fall short, and what actually drives meaningful learning gains. Along the way, we tackle major questions around detection, student use, teacher workload, and whether AI can ever replace human connection. The big takeaway? AI is powerful. And how we design, guide, and use it in education matters more than ever. Research Papers discussed this week AI for Feedback Directive, metacognitive, or a blend of both? A comparison of AI-generated feedback types on student engagement, confidence, and outcomes AI assistance in peer feedback provision: Pedagogically sound, but minimally adopted Marked Pedagogies: Examining Linguistic Biases in Personalized Automated Writing Feedback AI and Bias The Life Cycle of Large Language Models: A Review of Biases in Education AI Tutors AI tutoring can safely and effectively support students: An exploratory RCT in UK classrooms LearnMate: Enhancing Online Education with LLM-Powered Personalized Learning Plans and Support Effective Personalized AI Tutors via LLM-Guided Reinforcement Learning Unifying AI Tutor Evaluation: An Evaluation Taxonomy for Pedagogical Ability Assessment of LLM-Powered AI Tutors AI Detection Trusting AI to detect AI? A systematic evaluation of the reliability and robustness of current AIGC detection tools for student academic work (paywalled) Teacher Workload Shiksha Copilot: Teacher-AI Collaboration for Curating and Customizing Lesson Plans in Low-Resource School Student use The Secret Life of Students project - WonkHE Feb/March 2026 Is a random human peer better than a highly supportive chatbot in reducing loneliness over time?
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UnBlooms: Tina Austin on thinking well with AI and rethinking Bloom’s
03/26/2026
UnBlooms: Tina Austin on thinking well with AI and rethinking Bloom’s
joins Ray and Dan for a wide-ranging conversation about what AI adoption really looks like in US education beyond the hype, the headlines and the endless frameworks. Tina is an educator, consultant, policy adviser and the founder of GAInable. She works with schools, colleges and faculty teams on responsible AI adoption. In this episode, she shares how her work evolved from teaching bioethics and AI ethics into supporting educators across the US as they grapple with policy, privacy, assessment, tools, and changing classroom practice. The conversation explores the fragmented reality of AI in education, why many teachers are feeling “frameworked out”, and why Tina believes the best place to start is not with the tool, but with the problem you are trying to solve. We also dig into Tina’s “UnBlooms” framework - a challenge to linear interpretations of Bloom’s Taxonomy in the age of generative AI - and discuss critical thinking, student reflection, equity, privacy, and why educators should stay sceptical of easy answers. A thoughtful episode on using AI well, asking better questions, and meeting learners where they are. Here's all the links you need: Tina's new venture, Gainable AI The UnBlooms™ model: A Problem-Centered Framework for Learning Design in the AI Era Tina's Custom GPT for UnBloom: You can contact Tina on email at
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AI News: the future of work we’re not ready for
03/19/2026
AI News: the future of work we’re not ready for
In this AI News episode, Dan and Ray explore the fast-moving reality of AI in the workplace - and why many of us might not be as prepared as we think. They unpack a striking story of a KPMG partner fined for using AI to cheat on an AI ethics course, raising questions about assessment, responsibility, and what “cheating” even means in an AI-enabled world. The conversation then shifts to a growing trend: organisations and universities rolling out AI tools like Copilot at scale, and what this means for equity, productivity, and expectations in the workplace. Dan and Ray also dive into new research from Anthropic on the future of work, highlighting which roles are most exposed to AI disruption - and why knowledge work may change more than hands-on professions. They explore the idea that the real shift isn’t job loss, but job transformation. Finally, they tackle bold claims from industry leaders that office roles could be automated within 12–18 months, debating what’s hype versus reality. This episode challenges a simple narrative: AI isn’t just replacing work - it’s redefining what valuable work looks like. Links to discussions in the podcast: KPMG partner fined for using artificial intelligence to cheat in AI training test Aston University is first Midlands University to provide all staff with Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat for Students NY Times: Who’s a Better Writer: A.I. or Humans? Take Our Quiz. Anthropic and US Government Anthropic future of labour report AI Exposure of the Australian & US Job Market AUS: US: Anthropic Education Report - AI Fluency index The end of office workers as we know it?
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Stephen Heppell on Building Smarter Schools in the Age of AI
03/12/2026
Stephen Heppell on Building Smarter Schools in the Age of AI
Professor joins Dan and Ray for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of schools, assessment, and learning in the age of AI. Stephen reflects on more than four decades of innovation in education technology — from early experiments with AI and HyperCard through to today’s generative AI systems. Drawing on work around the world, he shares stories from radical learning environments including beach schools, post-hurricane classrooms in the Cayman Islands, and experimental learning spaces designed with students themselves. A central theme of the episode is the growing gap between how schools currently operate and the skills the modern world demands. Stephen argues that as AI makes knowledge abundant, the most valuable human capabilities will be creativity, ingenuity, collaboration, and ethical judgement - qualities that traditional assessment systems rarely measure well. The discussion also explores how AI can support teachers rather than replace them, helping with differentiated learning activities, analysis of student understanding, and freeing teachers to focus on the human side of education. Finally, Stephen challenges educators and policymakers to rethink learning spaces, assessment, and student agency - and to build education systems that prepare learners for a rapidly changing world. If you want to read about more of Stephen's work, there's plenty more detail on and lots more on
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From Classrooms to Careers: The New AI Skills Race
03/05/2026
From Classrooms to Careers: The New AI Skills Race
In this news-packed episode, hosts Ray and Dan explore Purdue University’s bold new requirement for all graduates to demonstrate AI competency; and the strategic partnerships between Harvey.ai (the specialised system for the legal profession) and universities in Sydney, Oxford and Chicago. The conversation turns to the "first in the world" move by the University of Manchester to provide Microsoft 365 Copilot to 65,000 students and staff - paying homage to the legacy of Alan Turing. A highlight of the episode is the deep dive into "vibe coding"— the phenomenon of non-programmers using AI to build applications through iterative prompting rather than manual syntax. They also tackle the "AI bubble," the rise of "work slop," and the surprising research showing that Boomers often have a more accurate understanding of how AI works than Millennials. Links & Resources: Purdue University adds 'AI working competency' graduation requirement University Law Schools introduce AI partnerships University of Manchester announces 'world first' AI rollout with Microsoft "What we are doing about AI at UWA" High school students forced to fight false allegations of AI cheating New Future of Work Report from Microsoft The Impact of AI on Work in Higher Education Americans Have Mixed Views of AI – and an Appetite for Regulation And finally.... From the "Do you ever read T&C's" dept
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AI in Universities: Why Connection, Not Content, is Now King
02/27/2026
AI in Universities: Why Connection, Not Content, is Now King
AI in Universities: Why Connection, Not Content, is Now King This was an exciting episode, because we recorded it on campus at the world's newest university - Adelaide University. It officially started on-campus delivery this week, as it finally opened the doors after merging the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia. Amid the buzz of students arriving for week 1, and I found some time to sit down and talk about how AI is impacting universities. Eddie is the university's AI Learning and Teaching Coordinator and you may not be surprised to learn that we discussed the AI myths of higher education and what being an "AI-first university" means. Eddie debunks the "AI brain rot" myth, explaining that while the technology is disruptive, it is not the end of the university. Instead, we are moving from an era where "Content is King" to one where "Connection is King." We explore: Upstream AI Use: How students are using tools like NotebookLM to synthesise information before they even start an assignment. The Soft Skills Surge: Why communication and critical thinking are now more valuable than hard technical skills. The AI-First University: What it truly means to embed AI literacy across a global curriculum. References: We discussed the research from about the way that ChatGPT was influencing speech. The paper, called "Empirical evidence of Large Language Model's influence on human spoken communication" is available at this link:
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AI Research Update: 8 papers you need to know for 2026
02/19/2026
AI Research Update: 8 papers you need to know for 2026
Research Update: 8 papers on AI in Education you need to know for 2026 In this episode, Ray and Dan provide a rapid-fire rundown of the most significant research papers hitting the AI in Education space so far in 2026. After a series of news-heavy episodes, the hosts catch up on the data behind synthetic avatars, grading accuracy, and the psychological biases we hold against AI. Key highlights include: Synthetic Lecturers: Exploring stakeholder perspectives on digital twins and the emotional reaction to the term Deepfake in academia. The Grading Gap: Why ChatGPT tends to be more sycophantic and generous with weak work compared to human instructors. The Disclosure Penalty: New findings from 16 experiments showing why humans devalue creative writing the moment they know AI is involved. Prompting Hacks: The "Groundhog Day" method 😂 Why simply repeating your prompt twice can boost accuracy across 70 different AI systems. Tools for Researchers: Insights into Jasper Roe’s research checklist and the "Paper Banana" tool for automating scientific diagrams. Links to all the research papers discussed Can synthetic avatars replace lecturers? An exploratory international study of higher education stakeholder perceptions| Who grades best? Comparing ChatGPT, peer, and instructor evaluations across varying levels of student project quality The Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Penalty: Humans Persistently Devalue AI-Generated Creative Writing The older "Transparency Dilemma" paper referenced too: Asking generative artificial intelligence the right questions improves writing performance When AI only asks: how question-driven dialogue shapes prewriting in the classroom Prompt Repetition Improves Non-Reasoning LLMs How to Use Generative AI in Educational Research PaperBanana: Automating Academic Illustration for AI Scientists
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Metacognitive Laziness and Sycophancy? AI’s Education Wake-Up Call
02/12/2026
Metacognitive Laziness and Sycophancy? AI’s Education Wake-Up Call
Is AI an "efficiency engine" or a "cognitive crutch"? In this episode, Dan and Ray explore the OECD’s latest warnings regarding "metacognitive laziness" - the risk of students offloading the thinking process entirely to generative tools. As the OECD Digital Education Outlook 2026 suggests, without pedagogical guardrails, we may be sacrificing long-term learning for short-term performance. The discussion shifts to the UK’s aggressive new response: the Department of Education’s Safety Standards. These rules explicitly ban "sycophantic" or flattering AI designs, stripping away avatars and "personhood" to ensure AI remains a tool rather than a digital companion. We discuss a NY Times article about AI in schools too, and the global experiments. We also dive into Deakin University’s multidisciplinary inquiry, which provides six essential curriculum recommendations for a world of ubiquitous AI. Finally, we highlight the release of Leon Furze’s Teaching AI Ethics, a vital new (and free) resource for teachers navigating these complex waters. Key References:
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Ray & Dan: What We’ve Learned From 6 Years of AI in Education
02/05/2026
Ray & Dan: What We’ve Learned From 6 Years of AI in Education
In this special "flipped" episode, the tables are turned on your usual hosts, Dan Bowen and Ray Fleming. Interviewed by from (and for) the podcast, Dan and Ray step into the guest seats to share the "AI in Education" podcast origin story - from its 2019 "skunkworks" beginnings at Microsoft to its current status as an independent voice in the global edtech conversation. The trio dives deep into how the podcast evolved through the 2022 Generative AI explosion, moving from technical "hoodie" discussions about algorithms to essential human skills like empathy and questioning. They reflect on impactful moments, including the complexities of indigenous data rights and why "AI detectors" are a failing tool for schools. Beyond the backstory, Dan and Ray discuss the widening AI equity gap and their vision for 2026: a focus on "the doers"—the teachers implementing AI in the classroom today. Whether you’re a long-time listener or new to the show, this episode offers a rare, personal look at the mission behind the mics. We think this episode might be especially interesting to all the new listeners who have joined us over the last 6 months, who might have some questions about where and when the podcast started, and Ray and Dan's background! We want to especially thank Michael for asking us great questions, and for being the technical & scheduling mastermind to make it happen. Links & References TeachNet Ireland Podcast: Apple: Spotify: Research Paper discussed: ""
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Stop accusing students: The "Silver Nail" in the AI detector coffin
01/29/2026
Stop accusing students: The "Silver Nail" in the AI detector coffin
Welcome to our first episode of 2026. In this heavy-hitting season opener, hosts Dan and Ray are joined by Dr. Mark Bassett, Academic Lead for AI at Charles Sturt University and a "superhero" of AI activism. Mark's an ally in our long standing mantra on the podcast, as we know you've got tired of hearing just Dan and Ray say "AI detectors don't work". Dr. Bassett breaks down his landmark paper, "Heads We Win, Tails You Lose: AI Detectors in Education" which we describe (hopefully) as the final 'silver nail in the coffin' for detection software. We move past the surface-level "they don't work" argument and dive into the legal, ethical, and systemic risks universities face by relying on "black box" algorithms. Mark compares current AI detection to using a deck of tarot cards to determine a student's future - arguing that these tools have no place in a fair academic integrity process. We also explore the S.E.C.U.R.E. framework, a tool-agnostic approach to integrating AI into education safely. If you’re an educator, student, or leader wondering how to move from suspicion to capability-building, this is the blueprint you've been waiting for. Links The Research Paper: The Framework: Find Mark Bassett online via his and Referenced Study:
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AI in Education’s Christmas Special: Hallucinations, Headbands, and Bad Ideas
12/18/2025
AI in Education’s Christmas Special: Hallucinations, Headbands, and Bad Ideas
AI in Education’s Christmas Special: Hallucinations, Headbands, and Bad Ideas In this end-of-year Christmas special, Ray and Dan squeeze in one final episode to reflect on a whirlwind year in AI and education - with a healthy dose of festive chaos. They unpack the latest AI news, including Australia’s National AI Plan, OpenAI’s Australian data centre and teacher certification course, major university rollouts of ChatGPT, and global experiments like nationwide AI tools in schools and targeted funding for AI-assisted teaching. But this episode quickly moves beyond policy and platforms into something more fun - and more unsettling! Ray challenges Dan with a “Real or Hallucinated?” quiz featuring AI products that may (or may not) exist, from focus-monitoring headbands and robot teachers to pet translators and laugh-track smart speakers. Along the way, they explore what these products reveal about current AI practice, the risks of anthropomorphising technology, and why education must keep humans firmly at the centre of learning - even as experimentation accelerates. It’s a light-hearted but thoughtful way to wrap up 2025, and a reminder that just because AI can do something, doesn’t always mean it should. News Items in the episode Tech companies advised to label and 'watermark' AI-generated content El Salvador announces national AI program with Grok for Education Hong Kong schools to get HK$500,000 (about AU$100K/ US$65K) each under AI education plan OpenAI to open Australian hosted service OpenAI ChatGPT for Teachers foundations course La Trobe chooses ChatGPT Education Australia's Nation AI Plan
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Podcast Unwrapped: Our 2025 AI in Education Awards
12/11/2025
Podcast Unwrapped: Our 2025 AI in Education Awards
In this special end-of-year episode, Ray and Dan unwrap the biggest moments, ideas, guests, and breakthroughs that shaped AI in education in 2025. From standout tools to unforgettable interviews, they look back at a year defined by rapid change, bold experimentation, and extraordinary people driving meaningful impact. [If you want to see, rather than just hear, this episode, then come over and join us on YouTube at - this episode is a visual treat with bonus Dad humour] They reveal their AI Product of the Year (NotebookLM), the worst offenders in AI hype, and their most loved - and most hated - research papers. And then they revisit the year’s most-downloaded episode, celebrate exceptional system-level leadership from Brisbane Catholic Education, and honour powerful student voices from Caitlin and the All Hallows’ cohort. The awards extend to professional learning champions Lee Barrett & Prem Radhakrishnan, Indigenous perspectives with Peta-Anne Toohey, and reflective insights from Carlo Iacono on what it means to stay human in an AI-saturated world. Finally, Ray and Dan name their overall winners of 2025 - and map out the essential episodes to revisit over the holidays. Full Awards list AI in Education Product of the Year: Notebook LM Research Paper of the Year: "Heads we win, tails you lose: AI Detectors in Education" from Mark A Bassett et al. Most downloaded Episode of the Year: “Learning Designers Meet AI” with Minh Huynh & Cory Dal Ponte K–12 Leadership & Vision Award: Leigh Williams and team at Brisbane Catholic Education Best AI Professional Development Work: Lee Barrett & Prem Radhakrishnan Award for "Voices Representing a Billion people": To the students we had in Series 12, especially Caitlin, and Abby, Abby, Miranda, Eloise, Charlotte, Annie Most Nerve-Wracking Interview / Indigenous Voice Award: Peta-Anne Toohey Making AI Human Award: Carlo Iacono Researcher of the Year: Dr Anna Denejkina Runners Up People not on the podcast this year, but who we feel have been influential in the AI in Education community Community Leaders in AI & Education: Simone Kirsch & Julianne Peloche; Sarah Ratner & the A-I-E-O-U team Education Leader Runner-Up of the Year: Jason Lodge And finally, Winner of Winners Dan’s pick: Leigh Williams from Brisbane Catholic Education Ray’s pick: Students in general
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AI just changed again - what schools and universities need to know this week
11/27/2025
AI just changed again - what schools and universities need to know this week
This week delivered one of the biggest waves of AI news in recent memory - and Dan and Ray unpack what it all means for schools, universities and vocational education. From Microsoft’s upcoming Copilot upgrades to Google’s jaw-dropping Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro image model, the landscape for teachers shifted fast. They explore how these tools are already reshaping lesson design, image generation, student support and academic workflows - and why NotebookLM might quietly be the most important education tool Google has ever released. They also break down newly released case studies from the Australian Industry Group, discuss Claude’s expansion through Azure, and look at how sectors like health, logistics and vocational training are adopting AI at speed. In the second half, the episode dives into three significant peer-reviewed research papers - including new evidence of gender bias in AI explanations, emerging AI-pedagogy frameworks, and fresh insights into how students actually use (and feel about) AI in their studies. News Microsoft Microsoft rolling more into the free version of Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat Microsoft and NVIDIA invest $15 billion in Anthropic - and Anthropic agree to buy $30B of Microsoft's Azure Google Useful review of Gemini 3 by Ethan Mollick Examples of the infographics we created with Google's NotebookLM can be found on these two links: The podcast episode infographic from the Aaron Driver, of UNE, interview The podcast series infographic from Series 14 "the Humans of AI" NotebookLM announcements Google announce new Gemini certifications for education Cogniti 29 teachers sharing their stories about using AI with students Anthropic Anthropic partners with Rwandan Government and ALX to bring AI education to hundreds of thousands of learners across Africa The London School of Economics has provided all students with access to Claude for Education OpenAI OpenAI announce “ChatGPT for teachers” for US school teachers - and makes it free until the middle of 2027 First ChatGPT Edu deployment in Australian Vocational Education Australian Industry Group Report: AI positive for companies, their people and Australian industry Research Gender equity in GenAI science explanations Bonus research mentioned: Sexist textbooks: Automated analysis of gender bias in 1,255 books from 34 countries A dialogic theoretical foundation for integrating generative AI into pedagogical design Time, emotions and moral judgements: how university students position GenAI within their study
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UNE’s AI Shake-Up: A Regional Uni Redefining the Rules?
11/20/2025
UNE’s AI Shake-Up: A Regional Uni Redefining the Rules?
In this episode, Ray sits down with , Director of at the , a regional Australian university making one of the boldest moves in higher education: giving every staff member and every student access to a full enterprise AI platform. Aaron shares how UNE has built , its white-labelled version of the platform, and why the university chose to go beyond standard tools like Copilot or ChatGPT for Education. With multi-model access, MCP connectors, and soon agentic capabilities, UNE staff have already created more than 3,000 AI assistants and reached an extraordinary 85% daily usage rate. The conversation dives into UNE’s four big reasons for giving AI to all students - safety, job readiness, equity, and privacy - and how this move positions graduates for a job market where AI capability is no longer optional. Aaron also lifts the curtain on UNE’s rapid cultural transformation, their sector-leading AI literacy programs, and the regional impact they hope to create by becoming Australia’s most AI-enabled university. A fascinating look at a university rewriting the rulebook in real time. Bonus Links Aaron mentioned the that his team runs, and recommended the free course for a good overview of what SIM Theory can do
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Meet the weird new jobs AI just invented
11/13/2025
Meet the weird new jobs AI just invented
In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, Ray and Dan wrap up Series 14 with a packed news and research roundup. They start with the tricky world of AI governance in education, where Ray explains how schools and universities can simplify their policies instead of writing 26 new ones. The conversation then turns to a Washington Post piece on the rise of new AI-driven jobs - from conversation designers to human-AI collaboration leads - and what this means for the future of work and capability-building. They also unpack new insights from cechat about how teachers are creating and using AI agents, explore Microsoft’s AI Diffusion report, and look at La Trobe University’s staff chatbot, “Troby.” They discuss Google’s education research, Claude’s pilot in Icelandic schools, and the latest update from OpenAI, before closing with a fascinating study on how students respond differently to teacher versus AI feedback. Listen in for practical insights, fresh data, and a few laughs along the way. News As AI reshapes the job market, here are 16 roles it has created - Washington Post CENet analyses teacher created AI agents Microsoft AI Diffusion research Mustafa Suleyman - Human super intelligence Microsoft will offer in-country data processing in Australia & UK for Microsoft 365 Copilot Case Study "La Trobe University supercharges academic productivity with AI and Copilot Studio" New Google paper on AI and the future of learning Iceland goes Anthropic Open AI - ChatGPT's new personalities Competitions for students to get involved in: CSIRO want you to predict pasture biomass from images - global https://www.kaggle.com/competitions/csiro-biomass United States Artificial Intelligence Institute Hackathon - US only How confidential is your chat with AI? Research Teacher, peer, or AI? Comparing effects of feedback sources in higher education
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Education on Country: Peta-Anne Toohey on AI and Data Sovereignty
11/06/2025
Education on Country: Peta-Anne Toohey on AI and Data Sovereignty
In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, hosts Dan and Ray welcome , Social Reciprocity Manager at Indigital, Australia’s first Indigenous-owned digital training company. Together they explore how generative AI intersects with Indigenous knowledge systems, and why cultural safety, data sovereignty, and community-led design must be central to any tech or education initiative. Peta shares powerful stories from her work in Cape York, where communities are building digital skills on Country through augmented reality, drones, and caring-for-country technologies. She unpacks what it means to create culturally safe technologies, how free, prior and informed consent should shape AI use, and why decolonising how we think about technology is essential for equity in education. It’s a fascinating discussion on how AI can empower, or endanger, Indigenous communities, and what educators and universities can learn from truly collaborative design. Find Peta on LinkedIn: Links - Organisations, people and projects mentioned InDigital - Local Contexts - Terri Janke - Google's Indigenous Language Projects Google and language researchers team up to teach AI Aboriginal English Woolaroo: a new tool for exploring indigenous languages Microsoft's Indigenous AI Projects Modis delivers first-of-its-kind Aboriginal language app to help break down communication barriers AI technology helps protect sea turtle nests from feral pigs in north Queensland AI transforms Kakadu management
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